The dilemma
Alex has a 2005 Mercedes-Benz A170. It works a treat for his light urban requirements but he has a hankering it's time for something newer. However, he can't find a replacement – the new A-Class doesn't have the height, airy vision and manual gearbox he wants, and while its B-Class sibling has the former assets it misses out on the latter, too. What are his options?
The budget
Not provided
The shortlist
The question of just which cars could fill an A170's shoes is a tough one. As Alex has discovered, the new A-Class isn't a tall hatch anymore; the B-Class is but doesn't have the right gearbox.
His manual-gearbox requirement also puts a question mark over two other possibilities, BMW's 2-Series Active Tourer (a B-Class rival) and Kia's Soul.
That leaves just a single new-hatch candidate we can think of that lives up to all of his criteria.
If it doesn't work, he might have to pick a compromise – an auto gearbox, maybe even an SUV – and try to live with it.
BMW 218i Active Tourer, from $44,400
This BMW is noticeably more spacious and functional than a regular hatch, and has our desired lofty driving position and good vision. Its generous specification includes toys like automated parking and autonomous emergency braking.
Its three-cylinder turbo petrol/six-speed auto drivetrain is a strong, flexible charmer with great economy, and it rides and steers well. In these respects it's rather better than a B-Class, which is why it gets the gig here.
But its mandatory auto gearbox issue here and it's not an especially cheap way to get a small, tall-sized serve of kicks, even if it's not bad value in its domain. While BMW has packages that allow you to fix service costs like its mainstream rivals here, you need to pay up front for the privilege.
Read Drive's BMW 2 Series Active Tourer reviews:
BMW 218i Active Tourer vs Citroen Picasso head to head
BMW 225i Active Tourer road test
Honda Jazz, from $14,990
This Honda hatch is small and kinda tall, with a high seating position and good vision. And it can be had with a manual gearbox.
The cabin also rates for its outstanding space and user-friendliness, and it has no serious spec deficiencies in light of its low price (even the cheapest model has a reversing camera, for example). It's quite frugal and service costs are capped for five years/100,000km.
But the Jazz's ride and handling leave something to be desired, and its petrol engine can be a bit sleepy at low revs.
Whether it's upmarket enough is up for debate here, all the more when the upper level models are auto-only deals. Safety connoisseurs will find better returns (i.e. autonomous emergency braking) elsewhere.
Read Drive's Honda Jazz reviews:
Honda Jazz VTi road test
Light hatch road-test comparison
Suzuki Vitara, from $21,990
What's the difference between a tall, small hatch and a small SUV? Really not much, so the latter are certainly worth a look in this context. Which ones? Mazda's CX-3 is city-friendly and has the kind of visual and driving appeal Alex might appreciate but it isn't that roomy or easy to see out of.
This Suzuki, contrastingly, has good space and vision for a baby SUV while keeping the Mazda more than honest for on-road nous. Its petrol/manual drivetrain is willing, frugal and refined. It's sharp value (all models have a reversing camera and sat-nav), easy to own (service costs are capped for five years/100,000km) and can be personalised with two-tone paint and other details.
But the Vitara's cabin isn't a benchmark for lush and – similar to the Honda – the range-topping model is auto-only. The lack of to-the-minute safety tech (i.e. autonomous emergency braking) is a potentially brow-furrowing point.
Read Drive's Suzuki Vitara reviews:
Suzuki Vitara first drive
Drive 2015 Car of the Year – Best City SUV
Drive recommends
The BMW is this group's best contender in too many key ways, from its drivetrain to its safety technology, not to win.
But Alex will need to be looking to spend this kind of dough on a small car. His current ride and shortlist suggest that's probably the case, but that's not certain either. And there is the question of it having the wrong gearbox.
So Honda and Suzuki mightn't be so easy to count out, despite their relative dearth of upmarket appeal.
Which one? The Jazz is a clever light car but also a bit bland and unsatisfying. The Vitara, while hardly a night at the Ritz, takes everyday nous and adds a bit of colour and appeal.
Comments